BYU Has Limited History with Potential Conference Foe Colorado

BYU and Colorado haven't faced off on the gridiron since 1988

The eyes of the college football world will be on the Colorado Buffaloes on Thursday. After leaving the Big 12 for the Pac-12 over a decade ago, the Buffaloes are reportedly set to return to the Big 12 as early as this week. Colorado has a meeting scheduled on Thursday afternoon where a formal vote to return to the Big 12 will take place. Should Colorado join the Big 12, the Buffaloes would be BYU's closest geographical peer.

Despite BYU and Colorado playing in bordering states, the two programs have relatively limited history on the gridiron, especially since the 1950's. 

BYU and Colorado last faced off in 1988 in the Freedom Bowl. The Cougars pulled out a 20-17 victory over the Buffaloes thanks to two field goals from kicker Jason Chaffetz in the fourth quarter.

Seven years prior, BYU traveled to Boulder in 1981 and took down the Buffaloes 41-20. In that game, BYU quarterbacks Jim McMahon and Steve Young combined to throw for over 300 yards and 5 touchdowns. This was the first BYU-Colorado game in over 30 years and the first game as nonconference foes.

BYU and Colorado were conference peers from 1922-1947. In those 25 years, the two teams faced off 10 times. Colorado won most of those matchups with eight wins, one loss, and one tie in those 10 games. In fact, BYU didn't beat Colorado until 1946, 23 years after the first game between the two programs.

Technically speaking, BYU and Colorado will be rekindling an old conference rivalry but in reality, only a handful of people on earth have seen the two programs face off more than twice. The two programs have very little recent history between them and will be starting a brand new history together.

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